Dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape and the like



July 4, 1967 "F. c. SIMON v 3,329,326 Y DISPENSER FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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July 4, 1957 F. c. slMoN 3,329,326

DISPENSER FOR PRESSURE'SENSITIVE TAPE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 2 ,""2/i6 /ji /20/ 66 //'f6 `I7 INVENTOR @4A/ C 5mm/V rraeA/EKS United States Patent O 3,329,326 DISPENSER FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE AND THE LIKE Frank C. Simon, 741 E. Grandview, Sierra Madre, Calif. 91024 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,832 7 Claims. (Cl. 226-127) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape including a drive roller unit, a plurality of tape stripping rails, and a tape pickup. The drive roller unit comprises a plurality of laterally separated annular tape-driving ribs having pointed outer edges for laterally supporting and driving tape forward from a tape roll. The tape stripping rails are formed of a material having a high release nonadhesive characteristic and include generally pointed top sides extending forward between and generally tangential from the ribs for stripping tape from the ribs and directing it outward from the dispenser. The tape pickup moves with a drive means for the drive roller unit to lift the tape from the rails when the dispenser is not in use and lowers the tape to the rails when the ribs are turning to drive the tape from the tape roll.

The present invention relates to tape dispensers and, more particularly, to a novel dispenser particularly useful in dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

Pressure-sensitive tape is usually supplied on rolls adapted for mounting within a tape dispenser. The most common form of tape dispenser includes a housing supporting the tape roll for turning about a central axis, and a cutter blade carried by the housing forward of the tape roll. To dispense a strip of tape, the end of the tape is manually grasped and drawn from the roll past the cutter blade. By pulling down on the tape, the tape is then cut by the blade and severed from the dispenser.

Such manual dispensing of pressure-sensitive tape is a slow, rather sticky operation. Therefore, in plants and ofces Where relatively large quantities of pressure-sensitive tape are utilized, it is generally desired to employ some sort of mechanical device for rapidly and cleanly dispensing strips of tape.

Unfortunately, commercially available mechanical dispensers for pressure-sensitive tape do not operate reliably, are complex in structure and design, diicult to load and service, and are relatively expensive.

The shortcomings of the available mechanical dispensers can be traced directly to the highly adhesive character of pressure-sensitive tape. In practice, pressuresensitive tape adheres tightly to metal surfaces, even on slight contact, and is dicult to strip therefrom. Within a mechanical dispenser, this creates numerous problems, particularly if metal drive rollers are employed to draw tape from its tape roll.

In an attempt to overcome these problems, drive rollers of a nonadhesive, high release, plastic material have been employed in mechanical dispensers for pressure-sensitive tape. -In practice, however, pressure-sensitive tape does not stick sufciently to such plastic drive rollers to .allow 4a turning of the drive rollers to draw tape from a tape roll. To combat the slippage problem, pressure rollers have been added to press the tape against the plastic drive rollers. As soon as pressure is applied to pressure-sensitive tape, however, the adhesive quality of the tape is materially impaired, much as when tape is applied to glass and removed. Also, if pressure-sensitive tape is left standing in contact with the plastic drive rollers for any length of time, the pressure-sensitive adhesive bonds to the rollers, causing the dispenser to clog during its startup operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for rapidly and cleanly dispensing pressure-sensitive tape Without impairing the adhesive character of the tape.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape which is reliable in its operation and which is n-ot subject to clogging, even after long periods of nonuse.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape which is easy to load and operate.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape which is simple, yet sturdy, in design, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken with the drawings, which, by way of example only, illustrate one form of tape dispenser embodying the features of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side View of the tape dispenser taken along the line 2 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional front view of the tape dispenser taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional top view of the tape dispenser taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE `6 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken along the line 6 6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken along the line 7 7 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the tape drive unit for the tape dispenser, illustrating the manner in which pressure-sensitive tape is drawn over the tape drive unit during operation of the tape dispenser and moved away therefrom when the tape dispenser is not in use.

In the drawings, the tape dispenser is represented generally by the numeral 10 and includes a housing 12 for supporting a roll of pressure-sensitive tape 14 therein. The housing 12 also provides support for a drive roller unit 16 and a drive control unit 18. The drive control unit 18 is adapted to mechanically control the Ioperation of the drive roller unit 16 to draw tape from the tape roll 14 for dispensing from the housing 12.

The housing 12 comprises a hollow base 20` Ihaving an open bottom 21, a hollow top cover 22 for covering the base, and a bottom cover plate 24 attached to the bottom of the baise, as by screws 25, and covering the open bottom 21.

An elongated channel 26 having generally parallel side walls 27 is formed in the top `28- of the base 20 and extends longitudinally from the front to the back of the base. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the drive roller unit 16 is supported within the front end of the channel 26. At the rear end of the channel 26 raised side portions 29 of the side Walls 27 extend above the top of the base and include aligned, horizontal recesses 30 for receiving the tip ends 32 of a spindle 34. The spindle 34 extends within the hollow center of the tape roll 14 and supports the tape roll for turning within the housing 12 about the generally horizontal central axis of the spindle.

The cover Z2 is hinged to the back of the base 20 for vertical swinging movement. In this respect, a pair of irms 36 extend from the bottom of the cover 22 downvardly through elongated forwardly extending openings i8 in the top of the base on opposite sides of the chanlel 26 (see FIGURES 2 and 6). Lateral pivot pins 40 :xtend from the lower ends of the arms 36 and seat withn slots 42 in the bottom of the base of the rear wall 44 )f the housing.

The cover 22 also is connected at its front end to the )ase 20 by a releasable catch assembly 45. As most :learly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7, the releasable :atch assembly comprises a hook member 46 and a latch nechanism 47. The hook member 46 is connected to the bottom of the cover 22 by a screw 48 and extends downwardly therefrom through an opening 49 in the top of the base.

The latch mechanism 47 includes a bifurcated base member 50 and a generally L-shaped latch member 51. The base 50 is connected to the bottom cover plate 24 by a plurality of screws (not shown) and includes a pair of vertically extending arms 52. The latch member 41 includes a hook-shaped top portion 53 and a base portion 54 and is pivotally connected to the arms S2 by a pivot pin 55 passing through the junction of the top and base portions. Thus supported, the hook-shaped top portion 53 is adapted to mate with the hook member 46 with a portion 56 of the base 5'4 extending downwardly and passing through openings 57 in the base 50 in the bottom cover plate 24.

The latch member S1 is spring biased such that the hook-shaped top por-tion 53 normally engages the hook member 46 when the cover 22 is closed over the base 20. The spring biasing is provided by a coil spring 58 having its upper end seated within a recess 59 in the base of the latch member 41 and its bottom engaging the top of the bottom cover plate 24. The coil spring 58 normally exerts a counterclockwise force on the latch member '1 about the pivot pin 55 to urge the hook-shaped top portion 53 into engagement with the hook member 46. This releasably locks the cover 22 to the base 20. When it is desired to swing the cover 22 upwardly, as when it is desired to reload the dispenser 10, the operator simply presses upward on the portion S6 extending through the openings 57. This produces a clockwise movement of the latch member 51, causing the hook-shaped top portion 53 to move out of engagement with the hook member 46 thereby allowing the cover 22 to swing in an upward direction exposing the inside of the housing 12.

Similar to the base 20, the cover 22 includes an elongated, forwardly extending channel 46 having an arcuate rear portion 48 for receiving the top of the tape roll 14. Opposite side walls 50` of the arcuate portion 48 are recessed at 52 to define shoulders 53. The recesses 52 receive the raised side portions 29 while the shoulders 53 covering the recesses 30 and hold the tip ends of the spindle 34 in place while tape is drawn forward from the tape roll 14 by operation of the drive roller unit 16.

At the front of the housing 12, the channelV 46 joins the channel 26 to form a small, generally rectangular opening 60 for ejecting the tape as it passes forward and outwardly from the drive roller unit 16. At the upper edge of the opening 60- is a t-ape cutting unit 62. The tape cutting unit 62 preferably includes a razor blade 63 extending along the upper edge of the opening 60 and there supported by a plate 64 attached to the base of the channel 46 by a screw 65. Thus arranged, the tape ejected from the dispenser may be severed simply by lifting up on the tape to bring it against the blade 63.

To direct and guide the tape forward between the tape roll 14 and the drive roller unit 16, the dispenser 10 includes a tape guide 66. The tape guide 66 extends within the channel 26 and preferably comprises an idler roller 68 carried by a shaft 69 supported at its opposite ends .by a pair of arms 70 extending downwardly from the bottom of the cover 22. The shaft 69 lies generally parallel to the central axis of the spindle 34 supporting the tape roll 14, and is below the topmost surface of the tape roll, preferably below the central axis. In this manner, the tape guide 66 directs tape downwardly from the top of the tape roll 14 and around the idler roller 68 and then upwardly and forward to the drive roller unit 16.

As previously described, the drive roller unit 16 operates to draw tape forward from the tape roll 14 and outwardly through the opening 60 in the front end of the housing 12. In the illustrated form, the drive roller unit 16 includes a drive roller 72, a drive roller support shaft 74, and a plurality of tape stripping rails V76.

The shaft 74 lies in the horizontal plane of the idler roller 68 parallel to the central axis of the tape roll supporting spindle 34 and extends freely through an axial bore 78 in the drive roller 72. Beyond'the right and left sides of the drive roller 72, opposite ends of the shaft 74 are secured lby support blocks 75 in openings in the right side wall 27 of the channel 26- and in the left side 80 of the base 20 between the idler roller `68 and the opening 60. In this manner, the drive roller 72 is supported for turning about the stationary shaft 74 within the channel 26 just below and to the rear of the opening 60.

The roller 72 includes a plurality of annular recesses 82 defining annular ribs 84 therebetween. The circumferential edges 86 of the annular ribs also include a plurality of annular recesses 88 defining a plurality of laterally separated, generally pointed, circumferential edges 90 for the ribs. The circumferential edges 90` provide lateral support for the adhesive bottom of the tape. Preferably, the drive roller 72 is formed of a highly polished metal. Therefore, there is some adhesion between the circumferential edges 90 and the bottom of the tape and as the drive roller 72 is turned in a forward direction, the tape follows the edges 90 to pull tape from the tape roll 14. In this regard, the tips of the edges 90 are rounded very slightly, such that they do not actually lcut the tape as it is drawn thereover upon a turning lof the drive roller. Also, the distance between the drive roller 72 and the idler roller 68 is preferably such that the tape in wrapping around the drive roller subtends a 45 arc from its entry to exit point at the top of the drive roller. In practice, this has been found -to be a preferable amount of wrap for the tape to provide sufficient driving friction for the tape without impairing its adhesive character.

To strip the tape from the drive roller 72 and to direct the tape outwardly through the opening 60, the tape stripping rails 76 extend between the annular ribs 84 within the recesses 82 and are preferably formed of a material having a high release, nonadhesive characteristic, such as polytetrauoroethylene, The rails 76 are narrow members Aand include arcuate bottom portions 92 for riding within the topmost portions of the annular recesses 82 with forwardly extending portions 94 tangential to the topmost surface of the drive roller 72. The forwardly extending portions 94 are raised slightly from the arcuate portions 92 and include pointed, longitudinally extending, top edges 95 for engaging the undersurface of the tape as it is stripped from the drive roller 72. The front ends of the forwardly extending portions 94 are joined together by a pin 96 seated within a lateral slot 98 at the front edge of the base 2t). Thus supported, front and back, the tape stripper rails remain stationary with a turning of the roller 72.

In operation, as the tape adhering to the turning drive roller `72 reaches the topmost surface thereof, it engages the front of the forwardly extending portions 94 of the `rails 76. Continued turning of the drive roller 72 forces the tape from the circumferential edges 90 forward to follow the curved contour of the rails 76 upwardly and .away from the drive roller. The tape thus stripped from the drive roller 72 rides freely over and above the pointed top edges 95 of the `rails 76 and passes outwardly from the dispenser through the opening 60. In this manner, the rails 76 literally strip the tape from the circumferential edges 90 as it reaches the topmost surfaces thereof. With respect to the circumferential edges 90, it should be noted that some of the adhesive fro-rn the bottom o-f the tape adheres thereto as the tape is stripped therefrom. The amount of adhesive is very small due to the pointed nature of the edges and does not affect the overall adhesive character of the tape. Further, the adhesive on the edges 90 is stripped therefrom during its next contact-with the tape, since the adhesive on the bottom of the tape is more adherent to ,adhesive than to metal. Thus, the drive roller unit 16 possesses a self-cleaning action as the circumferential edges of the ribs `84 turn to drive the tape from the dispenser.

To turn the drive roller unit 16 and thereby eject tape from the dispenser, the dispenser includes the drive control yunit 1'8. As illustrated most clearly in FIG- URES 3, 4, 5 and 6, the drive control unit 18 preferably includes a pinion gear 100, a unidirectional coupling device 102, a sector gear 104, and an actuating arm 106.

The pinion gear is carried by the shaft 74 at the left side of the drive roller 72 and is adapted to turn freely above the shaft in response to the movement of the sec- .tor gear 104.

The sector gear 104 is carried by the arm 106 to mesh with the pinion gear 100 and to produce clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the gear 100 as the arm is lowered and raised. In this regard, the arm 106 is supported for vertical swinging movement within the housing 12 and includes an arcuate opening 107 for receiving the shaft 74. One end of the arm 106 is pivotally connected to the base 20 by a piv-ot pin 108 which extends through the arm and into supporting openings in the left side 80 of the base and in the right side wall 27 of the channel 26. The opposite end of the arm 106 carries a handle 110 and extends through an opening 112 in the front of the base 20. A coil spring 114 is connected to the arm 106 yand to the underside of the top of the base 20 to continuously exert an upward force on the arm causing it to swing upwardly to a raised position.

To turn the pinion gear 100 in a clockwise or forward direction, the handle 110 is lowered carrying the sector gear 104 in a downward direction. At the bottom of its vertical stroke, the handle 110 may be released to return the arm 106 to its raised position under the inuence of the spring 114. As the arm 106 returns to its raised position, it produces an upward movement of the sector gear `and a counterclockwise or rearward turning of 6 of the drive roller, an O-ring 130 is secured in a recess 131 in the drive roller around the shaft 74. The O-ring engages the shaft 74 such that the friction therebetween prevents reverse turning of the drive roller as the handle 110 is raised.

Accordingly, to utilize the dispenser 10, the operator rst loads the dispenser by raising the cover 22 and inthe pinion gear 100. However, only the clockwise or forward turning of the pinion gear 100 is coupled to the roller 72 to produce an ejection of tape from the dispenser 10. Such unidirectional coupling of the rotational motion of the pinion gear 100 to the drive roller 72 is provided by the coupling device 102.

Preferably, the coupling device 102 includes a ratchet 116 including an internally toothed ratchet ring 118, a pawl 120, and a leaf spring 122. As illustrated most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the ratchet ring 118 extends around a sleeve 119 extending from the pinion gear 10'0 andl is connected to turn therewith. The pawl is connected by a pin 124 to the left side of the drive roller 72 while the leaf spring 122 is connected by a pin 126, also to the left side of the drive roller. The leaf spring 122 extends within a small opening 127 in the end of the pawl 1.20 and continuously exerts an outward force on the tip end 128 of the pawl holding the tip end against the teeth 129` of the ratchet ring 118. The teeth 129 and pawl tip 128 are shaped such that a clockwise turning of the ratchet ring 118 with the pinion gear 110 produces a similar turning of the drive roller 72. However, during the counterclockwise turning of the ratchet ring 118, the pawl tip 128 rides freely over the teeth 129 of the ratchet ring and the drive roller 72 Iremains stationary. To insure against any reverse turning serting the tape roll 14 in place within the recesses 30. He then manually draws a strip of tape from the tape roll outward through the opening 60 and closes the cover to ready the dispenser for operation. To dispense tape from the dispenser 10, the operator simply pushes down on the handle 110. This produces a clockwise or forward turning of the drive roller 72, causing the annular ribs 84 to tightly grip the under-surface of the tape and draw the tape from the tape roll 14 forward through the dispenser. As the annular ribs 84 turn, the rails 76 strip the tape from the ribs and eject it outwardly through the opening 60. At the bottom of the vertical stroke of the handle 110, a free release of the handle automatically returns the arm 106 to its raised position under the influence of the coil spring 114. During the upward swinging movement of the arm 106, the drive roller 72 remains stationary and there is no retraction of tape into the dispenser. The downward and upward movement of the handle may be repeated as many times as desired, or a portion of the stroke may be utilized to dispense a desired length of tape. To sever the tape from the dispenser 10, the operator simply lifts upward on the tape until it engages the razor blade 63 which severs the tape allowing the strip to be removed from the dispenser.

To insure against a clogging of the dispenser 10 with initial use after a long period of nonuse, the dispenser includes a lift device 132 for` operating with the arm 106 to raise the tape from the stripper rails 76 when the dispenser is not in use, and to lower with the arm 10'6 to lower the tape to the rails as the annular ribs 84 turn to draw tape from the tape roll 14. In its preferred form, the lift device 132 includes a lateral arm 134 extending under the rails 76 with vertical fingers 136 extending between the rails in front of the roller 90. The lingers include pointed tips 138 for engaging the underside of the tape and lifting the tape from the rails when the arm is in its raised position. The operation of the lift device 132 is most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 8, he raised position being illustrated in phantom outlne.

Since the tape is prevented from engaging the stripper rails 76 when the dispenser 10 is not in use, the adhesive on the tape does not bond to the stripper rails. On the contrary, it is only with a downward movement of the arm 106 that the bottom surface of the tape lowers to and engages the pointed upper edges At that point, the stripper rails 76 operate, as previously described, to smoothly strip the tape from the annular ribs 84 with a forward turning of the drive roller 72.

In view-of the foregoing, it is appreciated that the present invention provides a mechanical dispenser which is particularly useful in dispensing pressure-sensitive tape and does so in a rapid and reliable manner. The dispenser is compact and extremely easy to load and operate. Further, the dispenser is not subject to clogging, even after long periods of nonuse.

While a particular form of the dispenser has been described in some detail herein, changes and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the 'spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claims.

I claim: 1. A dispenser for pressure-sensitive tape, comprismg:

a housing for supporting a tape roll to turn about a central axis as tape is drawn forward therefrom;

a drive roller unit including a plurality of laterally separated, annular, tape driving ribs supported for turning about an axis generally parallel to said central axis and including generally pointed outer edges for laterally supporting and driving said tape forward from said tape roll, and a plurality of tape stripping rails of a material having a high release, non-adhesive characteristic, said rails including generally pointed top sides extending forward between and generally tangential from said ribs for stripping said tape from said ribs and directing it outward from said dispenser;

drive means for .turning said annular ribs to draw tape from said tape roll;

and tape pickup means for moving with said drive means to lift said tape from said rails when said dis* penser is not in use, and for lowering said tape to said rails when said annular ribs are turning to drive said tape from said tape roll.

2,'The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said central axis lies in a horizontal plane, wherein said drive means includes a pinion gear, a unidirectional drive coupling between said pinion gear and said annular ribs, an arm pivotally connected to said housing for vertical swinging movement, a sector gear carried by said arm for mating with said pinion gear to produce a turning thereof with vertical movement of said arm, and spring means connected to said arm for continuously urging said arm to a raised position, and wherein said tape pick-,up means includes a lift member connected to said arm and having a pointed tip for engaging the underside of said tape over said rails when said arm is in its raised position to lift said tape from said rails and for lowering with said arm to lower said tape to said rails as downward movement of said arm produces a forward turning of said ribs to draw said tape from said tape roll.

3. In a pressure-sensitive tape-handling apparatus:

a drive roller unit including a plurality of laterally separated, annular tape driving -ribs supported for turning about a central axis and including generally pointed, outer edges for laterally supporting and driving a tape forward with a turning of said ribs, and a plurality of tape stripping rails of a material having a high release, nonadhesive characteristic, said rails including generally pointed top sides extending forward between and generally tangential from said ribs for stripping said tape from said ribs;

drive means for turning said annular ribs;

and tape pickup means for moving with said drive means to lift said tape from said rails when said ribs are not turning and for lowering said tape to said rails when said annular ribs are turning to drive said tape.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tape pickup means includes an arm having pointed fingers extending between said rails for engaging the lower surface `of said tape.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

said housing includes a tape exit port forward of and above said rails;

said rails include bottom portions between said ribs and forwardly extending portions forward of said ribs substantially tangential thereto and slightly raised from said bottom portions whereby tape turning with said ribs engages said rails and the front .of said forward extending portion and follows the contour thereof upwardly over and above the top of said forwardly extending portions outward from said dispenser and through said exit port upon a turning of said ribs.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rails include bottom portions between said ribs and forwardly extending portions forward of said ribs substantially tangential thereto and slightly raised from said bottom portions whereby tape turning with said ribs engages said rails and the front of said forwardly extending portions and follows the contour thereof upwardly over and above the top of said forwardly extending portions outward from said dispenser.

7. In a pressure-sensitive tape-handling apparatus:

a plurality of laterally spaced, annular tape driving ribs supported for turning about a central axis and including generally pointed outer edges for laterally supporting and driving a tape forward with a turning of said ribs;

drive means for turning said annular ribs;

tape stripper means for stripping tape from said ribs;

and

tape pickup lmeans for moving with said drive means to liftsaid tape from said tape stripper means when said ribs are not turnin-g and for lowering said tape to said tape stripper means when said ribs are turning to drive said tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,851 9/1934 McCarthy 22S-24 X 2,275,410 3/1942 Anderson et al. 225--24 X 2,787,014 4/1957 Barry 22S-43 X 2,822,046 2/1958 Krueger 22S-11 X 2,849,065 8/ 1958 Krueger 22S- 24 X FOREIGN PATENTS 538,587 3/1957 Canada.

WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner.

JAMES M. MEISTER, Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE, COMPRISING: A HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING A TAPE ROLL TO TURN ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS AS TAPE IS DRAWN FORWARD THEREFROM; A DRIVE ROLLER UNIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SEPARATED, ANNULAR, TAPE DRIVING RIBS SUPPORTED FOR TURNING ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID CENTRAL AXIS AND INCLUDING GENERALLY POINTED OUTER EDGES FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTING AND DRIVING SAID TAPE FORWARD FROM SAID TAPE ROLL, AND A PLURALITY OF TAPE STRIPPING RAILS OF A MATERIAL HAVING A HIGH RELEASE, NON-ADHESIVE CHARACTERISTIC, SAID RAILS INCLUDING GENERALLY POINTED TOP SIDES EXTENDING FORWARD BETWEEN AND GENERALLY TANGENTIAL FROM SAID RIBS FOR STRIPPING 